Isle of Man-based SQR announced as Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025 regional winner

SQR, an Isle of Man-headquartered provider of tokenised digital identity verification and anti-money laundering solutions, was named in June as the Isle of Man regional winner of the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025.

Designed by the Interceltic Business Forum to identify, celebrate and propel high-potential start-ups from the Celtic nations onto the global stage, the Challenge aims to foster cross-border innovation and highlight the rich entrepreneurial spirit within Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and the Isle of Man.

It sought applications from ambitious, scalable start-ups making an impact in sectors such as: Tech and AI, Sustainability and Green Innovation, Creative Industries, FinTech, Manufacturing and Trade, SeaTech, AgriTech, Life Sciences, MedTech and Connected Health.

SQR, a previous winner of the FinTech category in the Isle of Man Innovation Challenge, is committed to driving innovation in RegTech and secure data exchange. The award noted that its tokenised digital identity technology stood out for its ability to enhance security, streamline operations and build trust in an increasingly digital world.

“We are incredibly honoured and proud to be recognised as a winner of the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025,” said SQR’s CEO Shelley Langan-Newton. “We are particularly proud to put the Isle of Man on the map as a hub for digital innovation and look forward to showcasing how SQR is building a more secure, inclusive and efficient future for businesses across borders.”

The winners, chosen from each Celtic region after rigorous regional selection and jury deliberation, were invited to the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient, France, on 4 August to showcase their start-up, connect with investors and build new partnerships.

“We are delighted to see SQR selected to represent the Isle of Man. We congratulate the team for their pioneering approach to privacy-first identity verification and look forward to seeing their continued progress at this important event in Lorient,” said ‍Rob Mercer, Political Member for Business Isle of Man, an agency of the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Enterprise.

“2025 marks the first year for Business Isle of Man as member of the Interceltic Business Forum, a community that fosters economic cooperation and collaboration among Celtic nations. We are pleased to support initiatives like this that enhance international visibility for the Isle of Man, create opportunities for export growth and business development, and support local businesses in expanding into new markets,” he added.

It was also announced that Malta-based Binderr, winner of the FinTech category at the 2025 Isle of Man Innovation Challenge Finale, had launched a new integration with SQR by adding tokenised digital identity verification to its ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) layer.

Founded in 2022, Binderr has built a powerful marketplace for regulated business services, integrating smart screening and compliance tools to simplify and speed up onboarding. With more than 30,000 entities already engaging with its platform, it is developing a comprehensive directory of corporate service providers (CSPs) using its tools to automate due diligence and client onboarding.

The collaboration between Binderr and SQR reflects the growing synergies within the Island’s innovation ecosystem and reinforces the Isle of Man’s position as a launchpad for global FinTech solutions.